EDWARDSVILLE — Returning seniors Eli Ramey and CaMauri Mayes, along with sophomore-to-be Kaleb Garcia, helped Collinsville open the Edwardsville Live boys basketball showcase with a 49-31 win over Bayless on Friday afternoon, June 26, 2026, at Lucco-Jackson Gym. The boys had a strong Edwardsville Showcase Tournament showing and appear primed for big things in 2026-2027.
Collinsville used strong play from Ramey and Mayes and a solid defensive effort to build a 29-10 halftime lead in the first of two 18-minute halves. The Kahoks continued to control the game in the second half, leading by as many as 23 points on the way to the 18-point win over the south St. Louis County school.
Collinsville Head Coach Hank Matthews said the performance reflected the progress of a young group during the summer.
“You know, we’ve got a young group,” Matthews said, “so, really, this summer has been teaching our guys what playing hard looks like, and what being a team looks like. That’s showing up early, diving on the floor for loose balls, talking on defense, maybe remembering a play every once in a while. But this summer has been a lot of growth for our young group, and I’m really pleased with how we performed in that first game. I think all the guys showed up and did a great job competing.”
Collinsville is coming off a 14-17 season that ended with a loss to Edwardsville in the IHSA Class 4A regional final. The Kahoks returned three seniors in Ramey, Mayes and Kalin McGee, with Matthews pointing to Ramey and Mayes as key leaders for the 2026-27 season.
“We have two seniors on our team, Eli Ramey and CaMauri Mayes,” Matthews said, “and we’re going to go how they go. They’ve taken it upon themselves to fill in big leadership roles, and I’ve definitely challenged them so far this summer to do that. To their credit, their response has been to be coachable and try to lead this group. We’ve got to continue that here the rest of this weekend, and then, into the fall.”
Matthews also said he welcomes the expanded Southwestern Conference, which will include Granite City, Triad and Mascoutah this season.
“I think adding Triad, Mascoutah, and Granite City is not only going to benefit us in our basketball in the Southwestern Conference,” Matthews said, “but in overall sports. I’m really looking forward to competing against them in conference games; we’ve gotten to play all those schools in non-conference games, but it’s going to be extremely exciting, being close to these communities, to have them in our conference, only adding to what is already a great and historic league.”
